Ayurveda, the Ancient Healing System of India
Ayurveda offers a road map that helps us navigate health to prevent illnesses and create resilience. Then and now.
How does Ayurveda work? Here is a short overview.
The basic concept of Ayurveda is that everything is made from the five universal elements of Space, Air, Fire, Water and Earth.
Each element owns particular qualities.
These elements, with their qualities, are organised in our body into three constitutional types or Doshas:
Vata - contains space + air
Pitta - contains fire + water
Kapha - contains water + earth.
Each Dosha holds the qualities of its elements. The doshas are arranged in our bodies in a unique composition during pregnancy, already influenced by the constitution of our parents and other factors. This unique composition is called Prakriti. Our Prakriti is our state of balance.
When our Prakriti gets imbalanced due to food habits and lifestyle patterns or seasonal rhythms, this is called Vikriti. Vikriti can be understood as dust on a work surface. This dust needs to be removed to get a clean work surface again. If we don’t remove the imbalances, they can lead to:
Digestive issues such as constipation, IBS, colitis, acidity etc.,
Stress, fatigue, insomnia
Respiratory conditions
Compromised immune system
Skin conditions
Headaches and migraines
Issues around pregnancy-, postpartum and menstrual health.
Ayurveda emphasises us living a healthy and fulfilling life, offering tools to take charge of our lives to bring wellbeing.
Vata dosha
Vata dosha has the qualities of the ether and air elements which are cold, mobile, dry, rough, light, and clear.
Vata dosha governs everything that moves in our body, muscle contraction, heartbeat, breathing, circulation of blood and energy, nervous system, and initiating processes.
A balanced Vata dosha is quick, creative and flexible.
An imbalanced Vata dosha shows in cold hands and feet, dry skin, dry hair, and dryness. Inside the body, it can lead to bloating, constipation, general aches and pains, joint issues.
On a mental level, it shows as scattered thoughts, indecisiveness, worries, and anxiety.
Pitta dosha
Pitta dosha has the qualities of fire and water elements: hot, penetrating, light, slightly oily, spreading, spicy, and acid.
Pitta dosha governs our digestion, transforming food into nutrients for our body to assimilate and nourish every cell. It also governs the hormonal system.
A balanced Pitta dosha is precise, sharp-minded, intense, organised, fast, good decision-maker.
An imbalanced Pitta dosha experiences hyperacidity, inflammation, skin rashes, eczema, burning eyes, and a very fast metabolism, leading to loose stools or diarrhoea.
On a mental level, it leads to anger, irritability, and impatience.
Kapha dosha
Kapha dosha has the qualities of the earth and water elements which are is cool, smooth, dense, slimy, slow, stable and viscous. Kapha dosha keeps us hydrated and lubricated. It is all mucus membranes in the body allowing smooth movement between the tissues, within the joints, keeping them moist.
A balanced Kapha dosha is patient, loving and content.
An imbalanced Kapha dosha tends to retention and swellings, the skin might feel puffy, frequent colds and coughs, congestion in chest and sinuses, weight gain, allergies, fibroids or cysts.
On the mental level Kapha finds it difficult to let go of material but also feelings.
“I attended Katja’s Ayurveda workshop during lockdown. The Pitta dosha seemed to describe me and my problems exactly. I have been following the tips I learned, eg drinking warm water, taking Chavanprash and soaked almonds in the morning, avoiding certain foods and practising Yoga stretches and meditation. I have found that my headaches are happening far less frequently. On top of that, my arthritic hip ( from years of tap dancing!), which has given me a lot of pain, has stopped hurting. I am definitely a convert to the Ayurveda lifestyle!” Vivienne
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Early on, imbalances can be re-balanced within a couple of days. If we wait and ignore them, they eventually lead to severe imbalances, which take much longer to balance again.
The doshas can be balanced with the help of a seasonal diet, herbal remedies, warm oil massages, Yoga and suitable seasonal lifestyle patterns, which can be determined during an Ayurvedic consultation. If you have never attended an Ayurvedic consultation, here is what it is about:
Ayurveda Consultation
The initial consultation takes 90 minutes, during which we are looking at creating balance and understanding how to better all aspects of your lifestyle and well-being. We are going to use a questionnaire and pulse and tongue diagnosis to determine your Prakriti, which is your unique constitution, and Vikriti, the current changes.
Based on the consultation’s findings, I will design a therapy plan, which contains suggestions for food based on the changes, supporting herbs and therapies, Yoga and lifestyle. After you have received and read through the plan, we will get together over the phone or via Zoom to talk you through it.
For best results, the therapy plan should be followed for at least a couple of weeks; after that, we have a 30-minute follow-up consultation to discuss changes, answer questions or make changes to the therapy plan as required.
Ayurveda implements profound changes which need appropriate time. For food to be digested through all the tissues, it takes about five weeks; depending on the nature of imbalances, it might take all five weeks to see changes.
Consultation Fees:
Initial consultation, 90 min, online or in person, as above, including detailed therapy plan (incl. diet, herbs, manual therapies, personalised yoga techniques and lifestyle suggestions), and 30-minute follow-up call £100
Additional 30-minute follow-up calls £ 30
Apart from the consultation, I am offering Abhyanga Massages (full body massages), Mukhabhyanga (rejuvenating face massage), Shiro abhyanga (ayurvedic head massage) and Padabhyanga, which is a foot massage with a special metal bowl. All therapies work strongly on balancing the body.
Workshops
I run regular workshops on Ayurvedic cooking, seasonal fasting/cleansing and the basics of Ayurveda and how to integrate them into the daily life to become and stay healthy.
